FAO Brussels Briefing on forest and landscape restoration

Policy makers, forests experts and Brussels partners came together on the occasion of an FAO Brussels Briefing to exchange perspectives on implementing and monitoring progress on ecosystem restoration, in light of the recent European Commission proposal for a regulation on ecosystem restoration. The online event was titled ‘‘Implementing and monitoring forest and landscape restoration – Enhancing resilience for people and nature’’ and was jointly organized with the Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU and FAO’s Forestry Division.

‘’The United Nations has declared 2021–2030 the Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, with the aim of preventing, halting and reversing ecosystem degradation on every continent and in every ocean, while creating a global movement to scale up successful restoration actions’’ said FAO Brussels Director, Raschad Al-Khafaji, welcoming the audience.

‘’Forest restoration constitutes an essential approach to combat climate change and halt biodiversity. Soil conservation also is a key aspect to prioritize,’’ said Patrik Mlynář, Deputy Minister for Forestry Section of the Czech Republic, stressing the Czech Republic’s commitment to protect nature and biodiversity by restoring degraded ecosystems.

The key role of increased partnership and exchange of technical knowledge between the EU, FAO and other key United Nations Decade partners, to scale up restoration efforts, was also emphasized by the new Director of the FAO’s Forestry Division, Zhimin Wu. Wu also alluded to the future collaboration with the European Union: “Collaboration and joint efforts are critical at this conjuncture. Building on our Strategic Dialogue and long standing partnership; I look forward to further deepening the collaboration with the European Union and its Members to work on implementing solutions at scale that are needed to achieve the impact necessary to fulfil the ambitions of the SDGs, climate and biodiversity commitments.‘’

Member of the European Parliament and of the European Parliamentary Alliance against Hunger and Malnutrition, María Soraya Rodríguez Ramos, recalled that there is no sustainable agriculture without healthy soils and restore ecosystems. She also highlighted the importance of including indigenous peoples in decision-making on wildlife and restoration policies.

The European Commission representative, Karolina D’Cunha, Deputy Head of Unit for Natural Capital and Ecosystem Health at DG Environment presented the EU Nature Restoration Law as a key element of the EU Biodiversity Strategy. She noted that the law calls for binding targets to restore degraded ecosystems, in particular those with the most potential to capture and store carbon and to prevent and reduce the impact of natural disasters.

Natalia Alekseeva, Coordinator of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, UN Environment Programme (UNEP) provided an update on the UN Decade, focusing on 10 flagship initiatives, that illustrate the breadth and promise of restoration work already underway.

During the panel discussion a spotlight was shed on lessons learned from successful restoration approaches across the globe, with a particular focus on national action plans, indicators and monitoring progress on ecosystem restoration.
The panellists presented successful experiences and perspectives on implementing and monitoring progress from restoring ecosystems across the globe, and more specifically Sweden, Spain, Türkiye, the Great Green Wall and the Action against Desertification projects.

The event was closed by Jerker Stattin, Agricultural Counsellor of the Permanent Representation of Sweden to the European Union.

You can watch the recording of the event here (Password: BRU2022+)